Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-09-17

of the bit, performed series of rapid
backward steps.
The horse crouched an instant, trem-
bling violently, then, with snort of ter
ror, plungd madly through the bushes,
both reins flying loosely on his back.
Meg gave utterance to shrek of fear,
and then sat, silent and white faced.
clinging to the back of the seat.
Mr.. Percy yigues had no thought save
for his own safety, and made no attempt
to capture the runaway.
But tall figure darted out in the very
path of the flying black animal, and a
pair of strong hands closed firmly on the
reins.
The horse plunged, reared wildly, but
those firm hands did not lose their hold.
At last, in the sudden fall of great plash-
ing drops, the horse stood, painting but
subdued, and Jack Linton, gathering up
the reins, sprang in beside Meg.
'1'll take you to the farm" he said,
breathing hard after the struggle. "Al
the others are there by this time. You
are not hurt at all?" with keen look at
her pretty, white face.
ono; but Oh, Jack, if you hadn't
Gomez
"Vigues would have let you go-to
death, said Jack, calmly. "And yet be
cause he can quote poetry prettily and
looks like tailor's block, you have giver
him your heart !" very scornfully, although
he was having all he o5uld do to keep tbs
black horse in the roadway.
81 haven't" cried Meg, Indignantly
''and if you are going to say such dis
agreeable things, 1 wish you had let the
horse run as far as he wanted to. Percy
Vigues is only dandi6ed fool, and
hate himln
"You hate me, too, l supposed" sale
Jack, curtlY, as he drew the spimal uI
and turned in at the farm, which belonged
" AllllScli dult Ills HlCtutl.
1t was just pouring. The great dropI
had become a sheet of rain by this time
and Meg's muslin was soaking wet. Sh'
was little pale, too, but her lips begar
to quiver as she stole look at her com
panion's face.
81 don't hate you," she said, softly
''but you have acted lately as though go,
hate me. Why is it, Jack2"
because that idiot was always hang
ing around you, and l knew 1 wasn't
wanted. All there they all are, gathered
, on the veranda"
And the picnicking party were grouped
on the wide veranda of the farm house
in gay spirits seemingly, watching Mee
and her cavalier drive up through Tho
rain.
''But, Jack, didn't want him,
whispered Meg, desperately. 81 have
been very miserable for the last few
weeks"
''BecauseP
Jack looked at her with kindling eyes
She colored hotly.
YES" she said, very low.
He reined in the black horse and sprans
out. Lifting his hands to help her from
the buggy, he asked 4 question whicl
every man asks at least once in his life:
"You love me little, Meg2'
81 love you very much, Jack" she an.
swered, as his strong hands closed ol
hers
Then she ran up to the house a sadly
drenched little figure, and Jack took the
horse TO the stable.
1t was not long before Percy Vigues
appeared, looking rather white-faced,
with his white flannel suit clinging to
him more tenderly than he could wish.
But Meg greeted him with scornful
glance and turned to her lover.
"You thought cared for him. Oh,
Jackl" she whispered, reproachfully, as
the brief shower began to abate and the
sun shone out through the rain-drops.
And Jack smiled happily as his moth
er hustled out to offer Meg dry garments.
81 ought to know better" he an
swered; "but l wouldn't have come to
my senses to-day but for this blessed
shower. I'm awfully glad it didn't for
get to rain on this particular day.
But Percy Vigues was not-Saturday
Night.